John Merrow on “Rebirth: New Orleans,” a documentary about the transformation of schools in New Orleans after the hurricane, mostly by means of charter schools. 
“In 2004, not even one-third of 8th graders in New Orleans could pass a state reading test. In some schools, the number was lower — just 4 percent.
“Since then New Orleans public schools have been transformed. Test scores have risen steadily outpacing every other district in Louisiana. Graduation rates are up, dropout rates are down.
“… Today the city is 80% on its way to becoming the nation’s first all-charter school district, perhaps a future model for the nation.”
Here’s the page for a Kickstarter campaign to finish the documentary.
And here is my Kaizen interview with New Orleans entrepreneur Jay Lapeyre, who is “past Chairman of the Business Council of New Orleans. After Hurricane Katrina, the Business Council has been a driving force in reform efforts such as consolidating the Regional Levee Boards and the Orleans Parish Assessors, establishing an independent Inspector General, and supporting efforts to improve flood safety, charter schools, and criminal justice.”